Spiffy:

Iffy:

Will the action stay fresh throughout the entire game?

The beat 'em up genre is dead. At least, that's what some people would have had you believe, as fewer and fewer brawling games were being released every year. The genre that was brought to life in the late 1980s by games like Double Dragon and Bad Dudes was all but dead by the time the current generation of consoles landed on store shelves. All of a sudden, however, a strange thing happened last year. Publishers from Konami to Capcom began to announce new titles that brought the genre into the present day, adding all sorts of new mechanics in an effort to create something new and original. Unfortunately, nearly all of them feel and look like more of the same. There's one game, however, that looks like it's ready to take the battles to the streets: Rockstar Games' The Warriors.

Based on the 1978 film of the same name, The Warriors tell the tale of a Coney Island-based gang that's framed for the murder of a rival gang leader. While it would have been simple for developer Rockstar Toronto to simply recreate the events of the film, they saw this as the perfect chance to build on the existing universe in a number of ways. The game begins 3 months before the pivotal event that kicks off the film, and it gives you a chance to get to know the characters you'll be brawling with, as well as some of the other gangs.

In addition to the events leading up to Cyrus' assassination, we were shown some of the game's "flashback missions" as well, which allow you to learn even more about the individual members and the history of the gang itself. These flashbacks are unlocked as you progress through the game, and while you can skip them if you just want to finish the main story, they are a great way to flesh out the overall storyline. In the mission we watched, we learned about how Cleon, the leader of The Warriors, was double-crossed by Virgil, causing him to leave the gang he was previously affiliated with, The Destroyers.

Next, we got to check out one of the main story missions, in which The Warriors are invited to a graffiti competition in SoHo, the stomping ground of The High Hats, a gang that wears mime paint. When the competition begins, the player has to collect spray cans that randomly appear around the enclosed area. Of course, since only one is dropped at a time, your gang will have to do battle with the others in attendance. If you can get it, you can begin spraying the wall, although it does prove to be a challenge. When you start to spray, a mini-game will kick in, and you'll have to trace a pattern with the right analog stick. If you don't go fast enough, you'll run out of paint before you can finish. If you go too fast, however, there's a good chance you'll deviate from the pattern, causing you to lose precious time (and even more paint). It's a nice mechanic, and it looks like it pops up a lot throughout the game.